[cercis]

Flash - you make a good point about computers. If they are plugged into ANYTHING (modem or wall) they are vulnerable. My laptop got taken out in a hotel when lightning struck. Thank goodness I was still under warranty - because the hotel was of the opinion that it was my problem, never mind they had no surge protectors.

In another instance I lost a modem (but not the computer) to another lightning strike. The computer was fine because it was plugged into a UPS with a surge protector. But don't count on the surge protection quality of power strips. They'll do some, but not lightning protection.